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A good vintage for quantity and quality
Weather Conditions
The year began with adequate rainfall and early budbreak. Cool weather early in the season delayed the bloom period which caused uneven set in both Cabernet and Merlot. Light rains in June proved to be harmless. After a warm period in mid-August that kicked the harvest off on a frenzied note, September turned out to be ideal for Cabernet. For Merlot the hot temperatures during late summer pushed fruit maturity, making this one of the earliest Merlot harvests in the North Coast since 1981. Otherwise, the pattern of cool nights and warm days prevailed throughout the Cabernet harvest in the North Coast. Most wines are intense in color and flavor with better balance and pHs than in 91. However, in Napa and other North Coast regions, the tannin levels were high. Overall the crop was slightly bigger than normal. Above-average quality, 1992 was often overlooked or downplayed because it followed two exceptional vintages.
Best Appellations
Napa’s Rutherford-Oakville region and mountain vineyards were impressive at the get-go because their wines were ripe, powerful and showy. With aging those that were overoaked fell by the wayside. But overall, the outstanding Cabernets and Merlots originated from Rutherford, and the west Rutherford benchlands. Also many long-lived Cabernets originated from Howell Mountain and Diamond Mountain.
Best Producers
Caymus, Staglin Family, Clos Pegase and Villa Mt. Eden Reserve join the likes of Dalla Valle (Maya & Napa Valley), and Phelps (Insignia) as top names from this vintage. The second level includes most of the familiar names–Dunn, Mondavi Reserve, Silver Oak Cellars, Pride Mountain, Viader, Shafer Hillside, ZD Reserve, Beaulieu Reserve, Copalite, Paradigm, Swanson, Diamond Creek, Robert Craig Cellars, Merryvale, Quintessa, Opus One, Silver Oak, Benziger Reserve, Stonestreet (Legacy) and Arrowood.
